Is cycling political?

March 4, 2011

As passionate as many American cyclists are, biking in the United States is hardly as mainstream as it is in much of the world. In fact, in the U.S., home to Detroit and land of the pickup truck, only about 1% of trips are made by bicycle.

But is cycling political? Julie Hochstadter says that if you’re in the U.S. the answer is yes, even if you don’t see it that way. Hochstadter is co-owner and manager of The Chainlink, an online community for Chicago cyclists, and the bike is her primary means of transportation.

At the Chicago Humanities Festival in November, Hochstadter shared the story of the moment she realized biking was a viable option for transportation. And in the audio excerpt posted above you can hear her explain why she believes riding a bike in the U.S. is a radical political statement.

Dynamic Range showcases hidden gems unearthed from Chicago Amplified’s vast archive of public events and appears on weekends. Julie Hochstadter spoke to an audience at the Chicago Humanities Festival in November of 2010. Click here to hear the event in its entirety, and click here to subscribe to the Dynamic Range podcast.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Ms. Hochstadter's position at The Chainlink.